Will a YouTube video about ‘being gay in Indonesia’ lead to an anti-LGBT law?
- A shock jock invited TikTok star Ragil Mahardika and his husband to talk about their married life on his YouTube show, sparking backlash from both conservatives and LGBT groups
- Activists say their fight for acceptance has been rolled back following the saga, with the community facing added persecution after an official proposed to outlaw homosexuality
Deddy Corbuzier’s “Close The Door” chat show often courts controversy by featuring celebrities and politicians to speak on sensitive issues, and the May 7 episode guest-starring Indonesian TikTok influencer Ragil Mahardika and his German husband Frederik Vollert was no different.
But the podcast – provocatively titled “Tutorial On Being Gay in Indonesia” – appeared a step too far for many in Indonesia, where sexual minorities are generally not accepted and have few rights. It was instantly condemned by religious conservatives, while LGBT groups were also critical of Corbuzier’s bid to exploit their plight to seek attention.
Three days after the webisode went live, Corbuzier deleted it from YouTube and apologised, saying he did not support LGBT rights. By then, it had garnered some 3 million views and 87,000 negative comments, mostly directed at the couple.
Ragil returned to Germany with his husband amid the backlash. His TikTok profile became suspended after thousands of Indonesians reported his account over the perception he had attempted to promote marriage equality in the Southeast Asian country.